Training apparatus



July 26, 1927.

H. P. oLco'rT PPARATUS TRAINING A Filed July 15, 1924 Patented July 26, 1927.

I-IER-MAN PARKER OLCOTT, 0F WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT.

TRAINING APPARATUS.-

Application filed July 15,

This invention relates to game apparatus and more particularly to a device for im proving ones form of stroke in the game of golf. 1 An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned which is simple in construction, effective in use and capable of being reduced to a relatively compact form thus enabling the same to be conveniently transported from plare to place as circumstances may require.

Gther objects and certain advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in con l3 nection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown as extended and ready for use.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmental view showing certain details of construction of the headgear.

Figure t is a fragmental sectional view showing the form of connection between certain telescopic elements of the apparatus.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view showing the means for connecting the head-gear to its support.

Referring to the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown what I at present consider the preferred form of my invention the numeral 5 indicates a base 5 plate to which is secured a plurality of s oikes 6 adapted to be forced into the ground and function as a means for anchoring the device in the position shown in Figure 1. To the base 5 there is connected a vertically 4 disposed tube 7 which is, at its upper end, provided with a set screw 8. This tube is of such a size as to receive a telescopic section 9 which is adapted to be adjusted vertically within the tube '7 and locked therein in any desired position by means of the set screw 8. The telescopic section 9 at its upper end carries a pair of cars 10 and is adapted for 'the reception of an adjustable arm 11 having formed therein an the reception of a bolt 13 which is passed through the ears 10, the bolt being provided with a wing nut 14: by means of which the arm 11 may be locked in any desired horizontally adjusted position. In order that the ears 10 may be permitted to yield sufiielongated slot 12. This slot is adapted, for

1924. Serial N5. 726,111.

ciently to enable the same to be urged into intimate or binding engagement wlth the arm 11 when the wing nut 14 is run down upon the bolt 13 the upper end of the secvided with a shoulder 16 and formed with a trunnion or pin 17 adapted for the reception of a depending support 18which is held in position by means of a nut 19 carried by the trunnion 17. This support is formed relatively near its lower end with h an arcuate shaped slot 20 adapted for the reception of a bolt 21 which serves as a means for slidably connecting to the support an adjustable head-gear indicated as a whole by the numeral 22. The head-gear comprises a plate 23 which is struck out centrally to provide a cup-like depression 24 having a curvilinear face 25. The plate 23 is formed witha plurality of radially extending slots 26 through which are passed a corresponding number of bolts 27 which project through the slots 26, the bolts being provided with wing nuts 28 and connected respectively to a plurality of radially adjustable arms 29. By this construction it Eli will be appreciated that the arms 29 may be easily adjusted radially in order thatthe head-gear may be accurately 'fitted to ones head. If desired the arms 29 may be encased substantially throughout their length with cushioning sleeves such as are indicated by the numeral 30.

The bolt 21', by means of which the headgear is attached to the support 18 as above mentioned, is passed through the cup-like depression 24 and is provided at its outer end with a semi-spherical washer 31, the curvilinear face 32 of which corresponds to that of the cup-like depression 24. The bolt 21 is maintained in position together ,With its several associated elements by means of a nut- 33 carried upon the .outer end thereof; the nutbeing readily removable as will be appreciated to permit the head-gear 28 to be'detaclied from its support 18'.

From the drawings when taken in connection with the above description it will be apparent that the device" may be readily collapsedto occupy a relatively small space thus enabling the same to be conveniently transported from place to place. In order to collapse the device for transportation the.

headgear 22 is removed from its support 18 whereupon the support 18 is detached from the arm 11 or, if desired, the headgear 22 together with its support 18 may be removed as a unit by disconnecting the support 18 from the arm 11. After removing the support and heat-gear the wing nut 14: is loosened to permit the arm 11 to be extended to its utmost extended horizontal position after which it is swung upwardly about thebolt 13 as a pivot and allowed to drop into the telescopic section 9, whereupon the wing nut 14- may then be run down upon the bolt 13 to lock the arm 11 within the section 9. After telescoping the arm 11 within the section 9 the set screw 8 may be released to permit the section 9 and arm 11 to descendinto the tube 7 whereupon the set screw may be run down into engagement with the section 9 thus locking the telescopic section 9 together with the extensible arm 11 firmly within the tube 7.

In use the golfer who is endeavoring to improve his stroke adjusts the device to a proper height and also extends the arm 11 to a suitable positionand with the head-gear 22 assembled as shown in Figure 1 places his head therein and adjusts the several arms 29 to proper positions. W'ith the apparatus so positioned and the golfer "it'll his head confined Within the head-gear 22, while assuming the customary pose incident to a drive, strikes the ball lying on the ground between him and the base 5. In executing the swing the, golfers head, confined within the head-gear 22, will tend to move naturally in an arcuate pat-h but any such excessive movement is limited to only such arcuatc movement as is permitted the head-gear by reason of the slot20. In addition to this movement the head will tend to undergo other movements but is limited, in this connection, to such movement as is permitted the head-gear by reason of the swivel connection between the head-gear 22 and support 18 which is made possible by the curvilinear taces 25 and 32 of the depression and washer 241- and 31, respectively' It will be appreciated. that while the device embodying my invention permits universal movement of the head during the swing of the golfer, only such movements as are necessary to the execution of a stroke are permitted. As a result of such limitation in movement of the golfers head, he, who is seeking to improve his form of stroke, is forced to not only keep his eye upon the ball which is essential but is also enabled to acquire such form in stroke as is necessary to that of an accomplished golfer.

While 1 have shown and described what 1 at present consider the preferred form of my invention it is to be understood that 1. A device of the character described comprising a support, a headgear carried by said support, said head-gear comprising a plurality of adjustable arms adapted to be adjusted with respect to each other.

2. A device of the character described comprising a support, a headgear having a plurality of arms adjustable with respect to each other, and means for slidably connecting said headgear to said support.

3. A device of the character described comprising a support, a head-gear having a plurality of arms adjustable with respect to each other, and .means for slidably and pivotally connecting said head-gear to said support.

1. A device of the character described comprising telescopic sections, one adapted to be received within the other, one of which is adapted to assume a vertical position and another of which is adapted to be moved toa horizontal position, means for locking said sections together and for permitting hori zontal adjustment of one section with respect to the other,,a head-gear, and means for slidably and pivotally connecting said head-gear to that section which is adapted to assume a horizontal position.

5. A device of the character described comprising telescopic sections one of which is adapted to assume a vertical position and another of which is adapted to be moved to a horizontal position, means for locking said sections together and for permitting horizontal adjustment of one section with respect to the other, asupport attached to that section which is adapted to assume a horizontal. position, a head-gear, and means for slidably and pivotally connecting said head-gear to said support.

6. A device of the character described comprising telescopic sections one of which is adapted to assume a vertical position and another of which is adapted to be moved to a horizontal position, means for locking said sections together and for permitting hori zontal adjustment of one section with respect to the other, a support attached to that HERMAN PARKER OLCOTT. 

